Motion-picture apparatus



N. A. NICHOLSON MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS April 14, 1931.

Filed Feb. 1, 19 30 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 JV? flhiyiclwison April 14,.1931T N. A. NICHOLSCN 1,800,745

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1950 Sheefs-Sheet 2 $2 ////5 50 I I n 4 as, 1/ anowu o.

Patented Apr. 14, 1931 I UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE manor-as a. mc'noason, or JOHNB'IOWN, rmmmvsma MOTION-PICTURE arrmrus Application filed-February 1, 1880. Serial No. 425,898.

This invention relates to motion picture apparatus, and aims to provide novel means controlled by an abnormal-condition, of the film strip passing through the machine, for

8' releasing a fire shutter to cut oil the light rays projected from the lamps of the machine and protect the film strip from the intensive heat of the lamps.

An important object of the invention is to ,10 g-ovide a device of this character which will pneumatically controlled to the end that air drawn through a tube, will act to hold valves to their seats, elements of the mechanism in their active .1 positions, but releasing the various elements f to proceeds,

to permit them to move to their abnormal conditions, when the vacuum within the tube is dissipated.

A still further object of the invention is provide means for automaticall breaking the circuit to the motor employe in operating the machine, when the fire screen or shutter moves to its active sition.

With the-foregoing an other objects in view, which will appear as the description the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventlon herein disclosed, maybe made within the scope. of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawin Figure 1 is a diagram i ustrating a pneu matic control device constructed in accordance with the invention.

v Figure 2 is an enlar ed sectional view trating the shutter an its support as secured tothe machine.

' p Figure 3 is aseetional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is ,a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2. a

Figure 5 is a detail view of one of the valves.

and pipe to which it is connected.

Referringto the drawings in detail,

' Figure 6 is a sectional view through a valvethe reference 5 designates the main tube retaining the various extended end 13 thereof.

of the ap aratus, and as shown this tube c0nnects wlti the tube 6, which in turn connects with the tube 7 that communicates with the blower casing 8. i

The reference character 9 designates a valve which controls the passa of air through the tube 5. The blower not s own, and which operates in the casing 8, is of the usual and well known construction, the same being operated by means of the belt 10 that moves over the pulley 11, mounted on the motor shaft 12, the motor also providing power to operate the motionpicture machine with which thedevice is used.

The upper end of the tube 5 extends laterso t at under abnormal conditions, air may be drawn into the tube 5, through the laterally Mounted at the open end of the tube '5, is a sliding valve 14 which normally closes the end of the tube 5. Springs '15 are connectedwith the valve 14 and act to return the valve to its normal closed position when the machine continues operation.

A guard plate indicated by the reference character 16 is sup rted adjacent to the film strip feed spool 1 the plate 16 being substantially long and curved, so that the film strip may pass freely thereunder. Extend- .mg downwardly from the plate 16, is an arm 18 that has a lateral horizontal arm 19 disposed directly under the film strip, which .is indicated b the letter A. Thus 1t will be seen that s ould the film strip become taut the film strip will on age the arm 19 to swing the plate 16 in one (Erection, and should the film strip buckle, the film strip will pile up under the plate 16 causing it to tilt.

Connected with the late 16, is an arm 20 that moves with the, p ate, the arm 20 being allyilas at 13, and is open to the atmosphere oove of [is mounted "on the shaft 28, whic' overnor 27 in turn is nor 27 move therewith. The

erated by the gearing and mechanism emp oyed in operatlng the moving picture machine, with the result that should the machine speed up, or be retarded in its action,

the valve 24 will be moved to allow air to be drawn into the tube 23 and tube 5, dissipating the vacuum within the tube,'for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Tube 29 also connects with the tube 5 and is provided with a pivoted valve 30 that breaks communication between the tube 29 and atmosphere, under normal operating conditions. Extending upwardly from one end of the valve. 30, is an arm 31 that isadapted to be engaged by the arm 32 extending downwardly from the arm 33 connected with .the arm 34 that in turn is provided with a roller 35 engaged by the film strip A.

A weight 36 is mounted on the arm 33 and I acts as a counterbalance for the arm. Should spools tube 5, the outer end of the tube 38 being arm' to which the shutter 46 1s secured. A

extended upwardly terminating in the housing 39. The housing 39 is supplied with a bearing 40 into which the shaft 41 extends, there beingprovided a set screw 42 for holding the shaft 41 'n position. This shaft 41 provides a su port for the tubular bearing 43 that exten s through an opening in the front' wall of the housing 39, the tubular bearing 43 being formed into al with the handle 47 is secured to the arm 45 and aitords means whereby the shutter maybe manually moved to its active or inactive position; v

Secured to the shutter 46, is a rod 48 on which the adjustable weight 49 is mounted, the weight being held in its positions of adjustment, by means of the set screw 50. Extending laterally-from the tubular bearing 43, is a In -51 that contacts with the under surface 0 the arm 52 which is pivotally mounted within the housing 39 by'means of the bracket 53. Under normal conditions, the arm 52 bearing against the lug 51, holds the tubular bearing and shutter connected therewith, in their inactive positions.

At the outer end of the arm 52 is a valve 54 that is adapted to move over the open end of the pipe 38to normally close'the pipe 38,.

the arm 52 being held in such positionby the suction of air through thetubes of the device, created by theblower operating in the blower housing 8.-

Mounted on the tubular bearing member mercury switch .munication between 43, is a mercury switch 55 that is in circuit with the motor that operates the moving picture apparatus, through the wires 56, 57, switch 58 and wires 59 and 60.

This mercury switch is so constructed that when the arm 45 is in a horizontal position, the circuit to the motor will be ,completed, but when the arm 45 moves to a positionto move the shutter 46 to its active position, the

will operate to break the circuit to the motor, causing the motor to cease .-its operation.

The reference character 61 designates a heating device that includes a resistance coil 62 which is in circuit with the wires 56 and .57, which in turn are in circuit with a source of electricity supply, through the wires 63 and 64 respectively, the latter wire being supplied with aswitch 65 to control the electric energy passing through the wires to the resistance coil 62.

The heating device 61 is hollow so that heat may pass upwardly therethrough, the heat-,1

ing device being in circuit with the tubes 5' and 6, through the tube 66.

Should it be desired to create a vacuum in the tubes of the apparatus, by the action of heat, the valve 9 is operated to establish comthe tubes 6 and 66. The switch 65 is operated to complete the circuit to the resistance coil, to the end that the heat in the heating device 'will create av vacuum in the various tubes.

The reference character 67 designates a valve which may be operated to cut ofi com- 'munication between the blower housing and various tubes of the apparatus. l

It might be further stated that the shutter 46 is provided with an offset portion 10' defining a shoulder to engage the finger 11' tion.

In the operation of the device the valves 9 and 67 are moved to positions as shown by Figure 1 of the drawings, whereupon the blower is set in operation to the end that air is drawn through the tube 5 creating a vacuum in the tube 5 to draw the arm 52 into engagement with the open end of the'tube 38. While the arm 52 is in this positiomthe shutter is held in its inactive position by the contact of the arm 52 with the lug 51 of the tubular bearing.

Should the film strip break at a point between the spools 36 and 37, the weight 36 when the shutter swings to its active posiwill overbalance the arm 33 causing the arm to fall downwardly tomove the valve 30 to its open position, allowing air to be drawn through the tube 29, dissipating the vacuum in the tube 5. The arm 52 is nowreleased, and the weight of the shutter causes the shutter to fall to its active position. y

-'When the valves 24 and. 14 are operated to allow air to enter the tube 5, the vacuum in of the branch tube and having tube 5 is dissipated and the arm 52 is operated to release the shutter.

I claim:

1. In a motion picture a paratus, a fire shutter, an arm for norma ly holding the shutter in its inactive position, a tube disposed adjacent to the arm, means for creating a vacuum in the tube to draw the arm into engagement with one end of the tube, a tube extending laterally from the first mentioned tubeand havin its free end open to the at mosphere, 'a va ve for normally closing the free end of the last mentioned tube, and means actuated by the film strip passing through the apparatus for actuating the valve to permit air to enter the tubes and release the arm and shutter.

2. In a motion picture ap aratus, a pivoted shutter a shutter controiling means including a tube, means for creating a vacuum in the tube to hold the shutter in its inactive position, a tube extending from the first mentioned tube and having its free end open to the atmosphere, a valve at the free end of the last mentioned tube for normally closing the tube to the atmosphere, a weight on the valve for regulatin the movements of the valve, means control ed by the action of a strip for actuating the valve, and means for drawing air through the tubes.

3. In a motion picture ap aratus, a pivoted shutter, an arm on who the shutter is mounted, a main tube, means forcreating a vacuum in the main tube to operate the arm and hold the shutter in its inactive position, a branch tube having communication with the main tube and having an open outer end, a valve for closingthe outer end of the tube, a motor for operatin the apparatus, a governor controlled by t e motor, said governor being connected with the valve and adapted to operate the valve to admit air to the tubes to dissipate the vacuum in the tubes to release thearm. 1;

4. In a inotor operated motion picture a paratus, a pivoted shutter, an arm for hol m e shutter in its inactive position, a main tu means for creating a vacuum in the main tube to hold the shutter in its inactive position, a branch tube in communication with the main tube, a valve on the outer end an u standing ger, a governor oontrolle by of the motor operating the moving plcture a paratus, a grooved member operated by t e governor, said finger 0 rating in the groove ofthe grooved mem valve to admit air to the the arm and shutter.

5. In a motion picture apparatus, a pivot'ed shutter, an arm on w is mounted, a main tube, means for creating r to openthe tubes for releasing oh the shutter main tube and havmg' an open outer end a valve for closing the outer end of the tn a motor for operating the ap aratus, a governor controlled by the s of the apparatus, and said vernor being connected with the valveand 31 m to operate the valve to admit air to the tube to dissipate the vacum in the tubes to release the arm and V e action a vacuum in the main tube to operate the arm and hold the shutter to its inactive position, a branch tube having communication-with the III 

